Hymas U-turn after resigning as AFC Mansfield chairman after club make history in Vase

Published:15:30Tuesday 10 September 2013

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In an eventful weekend at AFC Mansfield, they won their first ever game in a national competition, hammering Gedling MW 6-2 in the FA Vase, then saw chairman Steve Hymas resign before changing his mind.

The Bulls were still celebrating the win when Hymas made the shock announcement on Facebook, the cause of the bust-up and who it was with not being revealed by the club.

However, on Tuesday, Hyms said: “After thinking long and hard I have decided to stay on as chairman of AFC Mansfield. I have put a lot of hard work,time, money and effort into the club just to walk away.

“After a discussion with Andy Saunders and the club having an emergency meeting it was decided that things need to remain as they are so the club can move forward.

“The club will now continue its pursuit of the ultimate goal of promotion and I thank the management, players and staff for their support. We must now focus on the football and three points on Saturday.”

The Bull had completely overpowered East Midlands Counties side Gedling MW at Forest Town Stadium with man of the match Dean Rick plundering four goals with Joe Naylor and Mark Carter completing the scoring.

AFC began brightly and took the lead on six minutes as Joe Naylor netted a low drive.

A minute before half-time the home side got the second goal they deserved as Danny Tighe delivered a trademark free kick to the far post. Matt Draper rose above the pack to head the ball back across goal to the waiting Rick, who fired home from five yards.

Three minutes into the restart, Rick raced clear, rounded keeper Dunn before firing into the net.

Gedling got themselves on the scoresheet after 52 minutes. A quickly taken free kick to Carl Westcarr in the box was held up well and then fed to Luke Stanley who’s low drive beat Dale Sheppard in the home goal.

A superb through ball from Danny Naylor found Rick, who rounded the keeper and slotted it in from 12 yards for his hat-trick.

Gedling reduced the arrears straight away through Stanley before Rick was upended in the box and confidently sent Dunn the wrong way from the spot.

Carter eventually got his goal on 87 minutes as James McCann crossed for him to head home.

The Bulls’ reward is a trip to Grimsby Borough for the next round on Saturday, 21st September.

In the local derby, Ollerton Town progressed with a 4-1 win at Blidworth.

But there were exits for Sutton Town AFC and Pinxton, the Snipes crashing 5-1 at home to Dunkirk and Pinxton beaten 4-1 at Radcliffe Olympic.